Flames.
Ashes.
Screams.
The blood. God, the blood.
"…den! Aiden!" Sound started to come back into focus. Aiden turned absently to his little brother.
Just earlier that day, this child was smiling and laughing without a care in the world. If only the world hadn't gone to hell.
"Aiden, please! We have to go!" Nathan pleaded as he tugged at his brother's shirt. The tears running down his brother's soot-covered face brought him back to reality. The boy was eight-years-old with bronze skin like his but green eyes like their mother rather than his light brown, almost amber eyes.
Aiden got down on one knee and began checking him over.
"Hey. Hey. It's okay—your right. I'm sorry. We have to go. We're…." The words died out as Aiden looked back at the destroyed building but turned away quickly to avoid zoning out again.
"All right, let's go." Aiden grabbed his brother's hand and began leading him away. Away from the place they had known all their lives, away from the collapsed building that was once their home.
And what was lost inside...
Aiden and Nathan ran through the streets away from the giant portal many miles away. It was large enough to be seen from the outskirts of the city where they were. Monsters were constantly appearing from the portal in all shapes and sizes.
What's happening, you ask? An invasion.
Hordes of monsters and beasts of all shapes and sizes poured out of the portals. Military weapons were effective initially, but the number of monsters immune to their technology rose at an alarming rate.
Countries lacking military power were already on the verge of being wiped out, while others were already wastelands.
Casualties were already in the hundreds of millions creeping towards billions. One thing was for sure. Nothing will ever be the same, but that's if humanity survives.
But first, he and his brother had to survive. The siblings rushed through the streets, passing by destroyed buildings and corpses.
Aiden nearly gagged at sight. He hugged his brother closer, trying to shield him from this harsh reality, but Aiden knew it was futile.
As the brothers ran, Aiden heard feet hitting the ground and screams. He rushed Nathan and himself over to a dark alley.
Aiden wrapped his arms around his little brother and watched the scene outside the alley.
A guy and two women came rushing down the street with injuries and dirt all over their bodies. The guy had the worst of it as blood gushed from his shoulder. It looked like something large and sharp gouged out a good bit of it.
"Keep going! *Huff* The shelter is close by!" Screamed the middle-aged man. Based on how hard he was breathing, Aiden would guess the guy wouldn't last much longer before he collapsed.
"Did we lose it? I don't-" She was cut off before something huge grabbed her and flew into the air. The screams began again.
"AAAAHHH! Help me! Somebody, please!" These pleas went unanswered as the screams soon went silent.
The remaining two didn't stop as they knew it would be a futile endeavor, and they would be next if they didn't hurry.
As the two ran away, Aiden lost sight of them and waited a long time before checking his surroundings.
They were lucky enough to be on the outskirts of downtown. The streets of downtown were crawling with those monsters, making it impossible for anyone still there to be alive besides the military.
The resistance from the local military was able to keep the worst of it in downtown, but stragglers were still able to get through due to the beasts' resistance to their weapons.
Those stragglers made their way to the outskirts and started their rampage, leaving death and destruction everywhere. Thankfully, the monster that destroyed their home wasn't near them anymore, or they would have already been caught and killed.
After a while, they began to hear gunfire. Aiden's face brightened, and he tried to push his already tired body to move faster. That must be the shelter!
"Aiden, wait!" Nathan called out, and Aiden stopped to see him drop to the ground, tired and breathing heavily. Aiden ran over to help him up.
"Come on. We can't be out here for too long."
"I-I can't *breathe* run anymore." Aiden turned in the direction of gunfire and thought about what to do. He got up and kneeled in front of his brother.
"Get on. We have to keep moving." Nathan didn't hesitate and got on his brother's back. They got up and were on their way again, albeit slower. Thank god he was in shape from all the sports he played.
On the way, they saw places they passed every day destroyed. People they knew were laid out on the streets in pieces. Not even children were spared.
Despair played a heavy tune in their hearts and minds. No one should have to go through this sort of trauma, but here they are walking through it.
Ah…that uncle had given them sweets that very morning. His death wasn't pretty.
Aiden tore his head away from the scene and continued. When they entered a back alley, they heard the sound of shouting and occasional gunfire.
The brothers' faces lit up with hope, and they started to run to the other side. As they were running, Aiden noticed a drop of what seemed like water hit the ground by them.
'Is it going to rain?' Aiden thought this and looked up. At that moment, time froze. Aiden's breath got caught in his throat, and his pupils contracted. If you looked into the reflection of his eyes, you would see a monster above them with a gaping maw.
The monster was shaped like a lizard with the head of a wildcat. Its body was black and shined like it was made of leather. The mouth was wide open, showing a great view of its razor-sharp teeth.
Holes flaring like nostrils on the side of its head blew hot air out of them. Time unfroze as Aiden woke up and began to run frantically.
"Shit!" Nathan clutched his brother hard and buried his face into his back. He saw the monster just after Aiden, and it naturally spooked him.
'Crap. Crap. Why now?! We are so close!' Aiden was becoming more frantic by the second.
As if to play with them, the monster didn't immediately run after them but decided to wait where it was for a moment before giving chase.
When Aiden looked back into the monster's eyes, he swore he saw amusement in its eyes. A flash of anger went through him before it was squashed in panic and fear.
Aiden ran with everything he had as he heard the monster gaining behind them. As they burst from the alley, Aiden saw a shelter with lights and men surrounding it. As soon as he saw this, Aiden sprinted over in their direction.
Aiden heard shouting but couldn't listen to what they were saying over the sound of his heavy breathing and beating heart. But nothing stopped him from hearing the monster behind him come out of the alley like a bat out of hell. Its claws scrapped across the ground, tearing into it with ease.
Only a bit of shouting was heard before the gunfire began lighting up the night. The brothers ducked behind an abandoned car as the monster roared in annoyance at the bullets pelting it.
Its attention turned to the militia and began its way over to them, only slowed down by the rain of bullets.
While Nathan closed his eyes and covered his ears, Aiden kept his eyes on the monster and saw how the bullets did nothing to the beast. Panic stirred in his chest.
'Bullets can't do anything to it. I shouldn't be the only one who sees this, so what will they do? Are they going to run back inside and lock the doors? Wouldn't that mean…"
Aiden looked at his brother in the fetal position and sighed.
At the Shelter
Commander Neal was an exemplary soldier. Full marks on every exam and test. He was promoted faster than all of his peers and showered with praise.
Well, all that went straight to hell as soon the portals appeared. Chaos ensued. Orders from up top were coming every minute, and everyone had to fall in line or be left behind.
Neal thought he was safe when he was positioned at the outskirt of the city, but he underestimated the sheer size of the horde.
While not much got through, the stragglers weren't easy to deal with. The ones to get through are either strong enough to break through or crafty enough not to be noticed.
Both were terrible news for Neal.
At first, Neal had sent out several squads to survey the perimeter. After some of them went radio silent and others only provided screams before following the former, he had to call them back to the shelter where they made their base of operations.
Neal could only do his best for the people close to the shelter and could only pray with a heavy heart for those unable to make it.
After hours of monsters attacking, the soldiers had finally gotten some reprieve. It didn't last long, however.
A soldier was standing guard when he noticed something come from an alley connected to the street. It seemed like it was a person carrying someone on their back.
The soldier notified the others before shouting out to the people.
"Hurry! Are either of you injured?!" The soldier would shout some more before they saw what was chasing them come out of the alley.
Suffice it to say; that they wasted no time attacking the monster.
"Fire!"
"Aim at its legs! Stop it from moving at all costs!"
"Get everyone up now!"
Bullets began flying through the air and pelted the monster as it roared at them. It didn't take long for them to notice the lack of effect their weapons had, and dread pervaded the soldiers.
"Shit! It's 3rd Class Beast!"
"Get the explosives!"
"Commander, what are our orders?!"
Said commander was musing deeply on what to do. Fight for the people coming this way, abandon them, and lockdown the shelter.
A decision had to be made.
"Close the…" Before Neal could finish his command, he saw one of the people from before come out of hiding and throw something at the monster.
It hit, and whatever it hit, the monster did NOT like it. As it roared and started coughing, it turned towards its assailant.
Everything went silent as none of the soldiers knew what to do.
Only one thought ran through everyone's mind.
'Is he mad?!"
Back with the brothers
"Ah, shit…I'm fucked, aren't I?" Lamented Aiden, and as if to answer him, the 3rd class Beast roared and started towards him.